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Punjab not hindering link canal construction: Hooda

Special Correspondent

"INLD chief Chautala and his son Ajay Singh are trying to mislead the people on the issue by stating that it could lead to a `civil war' "

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda asserted on Saturday that neighbouring Punjab was not creating any hindrances in his regime's resolve to construct a Rs. 260-crore Bhakra Mainline-Hansi Branch-Butana Branch multipurpose link canal that would supply Haryana's share of water.

Mr. Hooda was talking to media persons shortly after laying the foundation stone of the 109 km long Bhakra Mainline-Hansi Branch-Butana Branch multipurpose link canal near Nimnabad village in Safidon Assembly constituency in Jind district.

While admitting that Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Akali Dal supremo Parkash Singh Badal had been opposing construction of the canal, Mr. Hooda alleged that the former Haryana Chief Minister and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief Om Prakash Chautala had been "indulging in cheap politics" by issuing statements critical of the project. Mr. Hooda further charged that Mr. Chautala's son and MP, Ajay Singh Chautala, too was trying to mislead the people on the issue of construction of this canal by stating that it could lead to a "civil war".

He pointed out that out of Haryana's share of 3.83 MAF of Ravi-Beas water, the State had been getting only 1.62 MAF through Bhakra Canal System and major part of it has been flowing in the tail of Bhakra Mainline. Mr. Hooda said that on getting allocation of 3.5 MAF of Ravi-Beas waters by Central Government in 1976, Haryana had got Jawahar Lal Nehru canal, Loharu canal, Siwani canal, Jui canal and Nigana Lift Irrigation Schemes, which were based on Ravi-Beas waters, approved from Central Water Commission and Planning Commission.

The waters of Ravi-Beas were to be brought to Haryana through the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal, but this could not materialise due to non- completion of the remaining portion of the SYL canal in Punjab territory.

Meanwhile addressing a public meeting, Mr. Hooda reminded that the SYL canal project had been lingering on for years because of the "Nyaya Yudh" launched by the late Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal and the BJP after the Rajiv-Longowal Accord was signed. Had they not opposed the Accord, the SYL canal would have been completed by now. He said that the Supreme Court had delivered its verdict in favour of Haryana on the basis of Indira Gandhi Award and Rajiv-Longowal Accord. He reiterated that the Punjab Government had not been any hindrance in the construction of SYL canal as the Central Government would get the work completed through an agency after the decision of the Supreme Court.

Mr. Hooda said the new canal would originate from the left of RD 340115 of Bhakra Mainline near village Azimgarh in district Kaithal and have capacity of 2,000 cusecs of water. It would merge with Hansi Branch and Butana Branch at Anta Head in Safidon Assembly Constituency in district Jind after passing through 53 villages in the districts of Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Karnal and Jind.

The completion of the canal would ensure equitable distribution of canal water in the State especially in the 16 districts of Jind, Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Hansi Sub-division of Hisar, Bhiwani, Mahendergarh, Rewari, Gurgaon, Mewat, Faridabad, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Sonepat and Panipat. The canal would also help in checking the problem of floods in Guhla, Cheeka, Assandh, Kaithal and Rajound. It would also enable the farmers to get adequate irrigation water for paddy through lift right suits (temporary outlets). It would also help in utilising surplus waters of Ghaggar and Yamuna rivers during rainy season for irrigation and recharging of ground water.

The Government had already acquired 1,367 acres of land for the construction of the canal and paid a compensation of Rs. 97.06 crores.

He further said that the foundation stone of Dadupur-Nalvi canal would be laid next month. Haryana Finance Minister Birender Singh said the people of this area had been discriminated for the last 30 years on the issue of distribution of water due to political reasons.

Whenever the people demanded water, the issue of SYL canal used to be aired to divert their attention.

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Punjab not hindering link canal construction: Hooda

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